Apparatus for filling confections.



B. A. LAWS, J. MUELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD'.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING UONFEOTIONS.

APYLIOATION FILED MAIL13, 1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

INVENTORS fix Ox.

wlmzsszs B. A. LAWS, J. MOELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD. APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONFBGTIONS.

APLLIUATION TILED MARJS, 1012.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

12 SHEETS--SHBE'12.

WITNESSES flNelfN Ra W W mm B. A. LAWS, J. MQELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONFEGTIONS.

4 1 9 1 0 N d 6 r n w a P a. m 1 m R A M D E L H m T A 0 I L P P A U Q 6 00 n 8 1i 1 0 1 12 BHEET8BHEET 3.

WIT" ESSES WW B. A. LAWS, J. MoELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD. APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONFEGTIONS.

'APPLIOATIOH FILED MAR.13,1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

12 SHEETS-311E121 4.

WITNESSES INVE B. A. LAWS, J. MCELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD. APPARATUS FOR FILLING OONFECTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MARJB, 1912, 1,118,36%, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

12 SHEBTS-SHEBT QH N g Q INVENTORs m WM WITNESSES Q N B. A. LAWS, J. MQELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING OONFEGTIONS.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1912.

WITN E5555 fliwmw y 12 SHBETS SHEET 6.

INVENTQRs @11- GM w maxm, (R ms B. A. LAWS, J. MGELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONFBG'IIONS.

f APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1912, 1,1 18,362.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

INVENTORL 12 SHEETSSIIBET 7.

B. A. LAWS, J. MQELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING OONFEOTIONS.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 13, 1912. 1,1 18,362.

. Q .u, (M. w fi my QW MW Q I N m 4 mi 0 f N m 3 k 5 m J 7 .9 A W M l B. A. LAWS, J. MGELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD. APPARATUS FOR FILLING GONFEGTIONS. I APPLICATION TILED MAR. 13, 1912. 1,1 18,362 Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

v 12 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

$1 MWM B. A. LAWS, J. MGELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONPEGTIONS.

APPLICATION IILED MAR.13,1\12.

1 1 18,362, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

12 SKEETS-SIIEET 10.

2 .16 WITNE-SSE .1 INVENTORS flaldm .286 58 lgjlg,

B. A. LAWS,-J. McELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING OONFEG'IIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13, 1912.

Patented Now 24, 1914.

12 SHEETS SHEET 1!.

INVENTOR 01ml. MAM. (D ms um-masses Maui/w y B. A. LAWS, J. MOELWAIN & M. M. LAIRD.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING GONPEGI'IONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1012.

1,1 18,362. Patented Nov. 24, 1914..

12 SHEETS 'SHEIL'I 12.

Jag]! rrnio serene PATENT ornic.

BENJAMIN A. LAWS, JAMES IVICELWAINJ AND MOSES M. LAIRD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WHEELING GUM COMPANY, OF WHEELING. WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONFECTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 75-1, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1912. Serial No.- 683,581.

To all VIP/i077? it may concern Be it known that we, BENJAMIN A. Laws, JA Mus \lCI lLWAIN, and hloscs M. Lana), all residents of Pittsburgh. in the county of Allegheny and State. of leimsyl ania, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Filling Jonfcctions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accmnpanying draw ings, forming part of this specification. 111 which Figure 1 is an end view of one form of our improved apparatus for filling confection tubes. Fig. 2 is a. plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4: is a sectional view on the line IVIV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line V V of Fig. 1. Fig. (3 is a detail sectional view through the tank containing the moisture-rcsisting material, showing the parts when they are moved into the position for coating the tubes to be tilled. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the filling mechanisn'i, together with the tube-chasing mechanism. Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the parts in a different position Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the tubc-lmhhng dcvice. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. ll is a sectional view on the line Xl-Xl of Fig. 1.0. Fig. 19. is a similar view on the line XI I X ll of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a similar view on the line Xlll--Xl ll of Fig. 10, Figs. 14. and 15 are detail views of the actuating racks for operating the pinch bars on the tube holding device. Figs. 16 and 17 are detail sectional views. showing the tube feeding mechanism. Fig. 18 is a plan view of the separating bars for the tubes between which the confection tubes are fed to the feeding device. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the valve for feeding the syrup to the tubes, together with the actuating mechanism therefor. Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line XX -*XX of Fig. 15). Fig. 21 is a. face view of the same. Fig. is a plan view of the pinch bars for finally closing the confection tubes and the operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 93 is a sectional View on the line XXIIT-XXIII of Fig. 22, Fig. 24; is a similar view on the line XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 93. Fig. 25 is a detail sectional view of one of the pinch bars. Fi 2G is a detail view of the pump actuating mechanism for feeding the syrup to the tubes. Fig. 27 is a detail sectional view on the line XXVlI-XXVII of Fig. 26, and Fig. 28 is a detail view of a signaling device.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling confection tubes with syrup, andis more particularly applicable to filling tubes of chewing gum with syrup or flavoring matter.

The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for simultancmisly coating the interior of a plurality ofmn'ha-tion tubes with a inoisturcrcsisting substance. then filling with a syrup or flavoring solution, and then scaling the tubes in a rapid, and accurate manner. This particular device is so arranged that the tubes a re first fed to a. holderin which they are centered. and one end of each tube is then sea-led. A moisture-resistiug material, prcl'eraldy of a waxy nature, is then injected into the interior of each tube through its lower open end and the tube holder, together with the tubes, is then reversed so as to bring the open mouths of the tube bcloni the syrup feeding nipples, through whiclfa predetermined amount of syrup is injected into each tube. The other end of each tube is then closed, and after lltlllQ so closed. the tubes are released from the holding device and are permitted to fall through such device into a properly placed receptacle.

The precise nature of our invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying. drawings, which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made in the details of construction and general arrangement of the parts, without. departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. as defined in the appended claims.

in the drawings, the numeral 2 des gnates the main frame of the machine on which the various parts of the device for ca rving out our invention are supported. The upper portion of the frame Qfthe machine is-provided with a rack 3 having a plurality oi grooves i in which the confection tubes 5 to be filled are placed. The front end. of each of these channels opens into a chute 6; and 7 are conveyor tubes leading from the lower end of the tube 6 to a point immediately above the openings in the confection tube holding device, as hereinafter described. The upper end of the chute 6 is divided into as many spaces as there are channels or grooves in the rack 3 by means of the plates 8. Slidably mounted on the longitudinally extending rods 9 at the side of the rack 3 is a feeding bar 10.

11-41 indicate winding drums on the opposits sides of the machine to the peripheries of which are attached metallic bands '12; the other ends of these bands being attached to the feeding bar 10.

13, arebands which are also connected to the feed bar and extend rcarwardly over the sheaves 1%. Connected to the ends of these bands are the weights 15 which are slidably mounted in dash-pots 17?. These weights are arranged to return the feeding bars to the rear end of the machine after several sets of tubeshave been filled. as hereinafter described.

- The drums 11 are connected. to a shaft 18 journaled in the frame of the machine, and connected to this shaft is a ratchet Wheel 19 which is engaged by means of a spring pressed pawl 20 mounted in a slide 21 on one side of the'machine.

22 designates a retaining pawl for the ratchet wheel 19.

Mounted on the end of the slide 21 is an antifriction roller 23, which is engaged by a cam 24: on a continuously rotated shaft 25., which shaft makes one rotation for each fill-- ing operation.

lPivotally mounted at 27 on the frame of the nachine and extending above the rack 3, is an arm 26, the front end of which is provided with a plurality of fingers 28 which extend down between the division plates 8, and. are arranged to break off the tubes to be filled at the separating; point if the first tube should stick to the second tube in the rack.

Extending from a hoes on the rockerarm 26 is a projection 29 which is in the line of inoren'ient of a gravity actuated pawl 30 pivoted on the end of a lever 31, which is pivoted to the frame-of the machine at Extending horizontally in line with return the rocker 26 to its upper position, as shown in The operation of the feeding device for the tube is as follows: iliheislidc 21. is reciprocated for each round of th: machine, and will move the ratchet wheel 19 the dis tance of one tooth, which will in turn rotate the drums l1 and more the feeding bar 10 a distance which is equal to the length of one of the conf cticn tubes T he feeding bar will more the first set of tubes 5 into the chute 6, through which they drop by gravity to the various tubes 7?. llf any of the tubes should stick to the next tube, the fingers 28 on. the T001581 arin will engage them and snap them off by the quick motion of the rocker arm. During the movement of the slide 21, the lever 31 will be rocked, which will in turn rock the arm 26- into the position shown in Fig. if and as soon as pawl 30 has passed the projection 29a, the rocker arm 25 will by downward to break any the tubes which stick to the adjacent to. The rocker arm will then be returned to the position shown in Fig. 5-3 by the spring 35.

The raclit 3 is long enough to hold fifteen tubes 5 in each of the grooves at; and at each rotation of the machine, one set of the tubes is filled. After the machine has made fifteen cycles the pawl 22 raised to release the ratchet wheel 19 permit the weights-15 to return the feeding bar to its rearniost position.

Pivotally mounted on a stud 37 and in line with the shaft 18 is a gear wheel 37 which meshes with a pinion 38 on a.countershaft 39, to which is connected gear wheel 4-0 which is in mesh with pinion ii on the shaft 25 The ratio of the gears 40, ii and 37 is about 15 to 1, so that the gear 37 will make a complete cycle for each 15 filling operations, Extending inwardly from the gear 37 is a pin 42 and extending outwardly from the dog 22 is a cam projection i3, and when the machine has made 15 cycles, the projecting pin e12 will engage the projection 43 and raise the pawl which will release the ratchet wheel 19 and permit the feed her to be returned by inc-ans of the weights 1.5.

Connected to the shaft 18 is a pinion it which in mesh with gear wheel journaled on a stud e 6. Connected to the gear wheel 45 is'a stop projection e i -and adjustably mounted in the frame of the machine is a set screw in the line of movement of the stop t? and which is arranged to stop the feed bar its real-roost posi tion.

Keyedto a shaft 4-8, which is journaled in the frame of the machine, are arnis 4:9; and connecte these arms by ineans'of the nuts the fix, ction tube hol'ding'har 5?. which ed with a; 'piiural'ity. of

the pinch plate 5% at the same edge, are connected to each other by means of an interposed distance piece 55, as shown in Fig.

lie

11. The centering plate and pinch plate at the other side of the holding bar are connected by a similar piece55. Journaled on studs inthe holding bar 51 are pinions 56, there being one pinion at each end of the bar. Both ends of each of the pinch plates o lzare provided with racks which engage the pinions 56 on opposite sides thereof, so that when one of the plates is moved in one direction, the other plate will be moved in a reverse direction. interposed between one of the pinch plates 51 and the supporting frame for the holding bar 51 are coil springs 57, which tend to hold the bars in a closed position.

Slidably mounted in guides in the holding bar 51 are blocks 57, which are provided with anti-friction rollers 58, arranged to be engaged by cams 59, connected to the sleeve 60 on the shaft 48. These blocks are also each other.

Slidably mounted in guides in the holding bar 51, adjacent to the centering plates '53, is a stop plate 6-1, which is provided with racks on the bottom thereof, which are in mesh with sectors ()6 on a shaft 67 'journaled in the holding bar, 51. Connected to the shaft 67 is a pinion 68 which is in mesh with a rack 69 on a' spring pressed slide 70, mounted in. guides in the bar 51.

71 is a spring Within the slide and which is arranged to normally hold the parts in' such a position that the stop plate 64- will be withdrawn from below the openings in the holding bar 51. j

79 is a roller on the slide 70 and which is arranged to be engaged by a cam 7 mounted on'the sleeve (30. This cam is arrz'inged to hold the stop plate under the openings in the hold ng bar 51 aga nst the action of the spring 71, as can be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 5.

By the use of the various gears and racks,

the stop plate (34 will be moved at a comparatively higher rate of speed than the slide 70 and will be moved a distance eonsiderably greater than the movement of the said slide.

blidably mounted on rods 71, which are connected to a projection 75 exte nding from the frame of the machine, is a slide 76. This slide is provided with a rack 77 which is in mesh with a gear wheel 78 keyed to the shaft 18.. Keyed to ,a shaft 79 journaled in the frame of the machine is a sector 80 having a plurality of antifriction rollers 81 at its periphery which are arranged to engage a cam face 82 onthe slide 76 to raise theslide and actuate the gear wheel 78 to rotate the shaft 48, as hereinafter described. Connected to the shaft 1-8 is a lever arm 83, which is provided with an adjustable counterweight 8-1 arranged to counterbalance the movement of the confection tube holding bar 51, as hereinafter described.

Slidabl y mounted in guides on the frame of the machine is a tank 85 for the moisture resisting material, which is arranged to be moved in a horizontal direction by means of lovers 86 keyed to a shaft 87, one end. of these levers being loosely connected to lugs on the tank 88, while the other ends are provided with rollers 89 engaged by cams 90 on a shaft 91, also journaled in the frame of the machine.

Extending upwardly through lugs 92 in the tank 85 are rods 93. Connected to the upper ends of these rods is a frame 9-1 located within the tank 85. This frame is provided with a reservoir 95., the upper end of which is inclosed by means of a plate 96, and extending through the plate 96 are the injecting nozzles 97, the number of nozzles being equal to the number of openings 52 in the holding bar 51. i

98 isa pressure box which is. mounted on guide rods 98 for the frame ()1, which is in communication with the chamber by means of an opening 99 when the frame 94 is raised as shown in Fig. (l. Communicating with the interior of the box 98 is a pipe or tube 100 connected to any source of pressure supply. \Vithin the box 98 is a plate 101 provided with perforations to equalize the pressure below the plate, so that the pressure will be equally applied to the entire length in the space below the plate 101 and thereby equalize the pressure in all of the nozzle 7 when pressure is admitted to the pipe 100. x

The lower ends of the rods 93 are connected to a cross-head 102, provided with a dowmvardly extending fork inwhich is journaled a-roller 103 arranged to be engaged by a cam 101 on the shaft 91.

Pivotally mounted so as to swing'below the feed tube 7, is a check platc 105,' normally held in its retracted position by means I 3 m o. manner herein 'ter described, the circuit will be closed through the, battery 109. Connected the front of machine is a casing 111 With a lift valve .112 arranged to .pen and close the openings from the casing 111 to syrup feeding tube: 113, end are longitudinal slime wet with ".1 tubes 1'' and E h the ooenings 52 c iii the holding bar The valve 112 is pro-- vided "with iorwerdl projections iviicli pivotally mounted at 115 t casirig 111. liioimted Within a lOl'lSLlluilnELl .cess Within the valve 112 is a 1 provided with an arm 11?,

which ttreugh an opening in the valve. The eieds oi the shaft 11% extend outwardly through the valve casing; and mounted on one card of this shaft is e pinion 118 in 111951). with segmental rack 119 which is jourir led st 120 to an. extension from the casing 111. Connected to an arm extending from the segmental rack 119 is an adjustable roiier 121 arranged to be ac tuated by a cam 122 on the shaft Connected to the upper end of the valve casing 111 iso syrup feeding pipe 128 leadiiig to a pump 12%, having a piston connected to a piston rod which is in turn connected to a linl: 126. The other end of this link is adjustably connected to one end of a lever 12? which is pivoted at 1.25 to a stand- :ircl secured to the end of the machine. ihe

other end of: this let-er 12! is provided with roller 129 arranged to be engaged by a cam. 180 on the s11 ft '79.

81 designates the syrup tank connected to the pump 12-1, the pipes ieading from the to the pump and from the pump to the valve casingare provid d with suitcbcclt valves 132. 15/ means of the diiista connection between il1% l111l 121 the le er 12?, stroke oi the piston in 124; tie-adjusted so as to feed at predetermined student of svrup to the tubes to be tilted, as hereinafter described.

- liiloimted on each side of the vrup tubes ch bars 1" lees-e pinch -otlfaecteci. Bil-b01111 ends to tubes 151 with a, heater 1. Meter Wluch circulates through tir'v snort llClS 131-, which are cone:

machine. The arms at the e bars through winch the go extend are provided with "a li'iLGSlllIlg with the gear "i ore. of the front pinch bar is eer I which, in turn, meshes with the'geer 137 which is 111 mesh with the on the arm of the rear pine otelly connected to lugs on tile bar are links 138, which are con arms 139 of bell-crank lever" 1 on HO there being one at each of :f' each bell crank having an adjusts. r 11-2 at the upper end there-oi, which ranged to be actuated by the cam shaft 14-3 are tension springs cones front pinch bars and the e 1 was 1 ing outwardly from the frame oi: the chine are arranged to return the b to their open position. Pivotally i on pins 1 15 on collar keyed to the 1e10, are the levers 1 1-6, one oi said 7 r. 3 having an arm 147 to which is connected 9?- an adjustable roller 1 18 which is arrai to be actuated by a cam 1419 on the and 117 is a spring for reti to its uppermost position.

nected to the levers 1&6 a1 plates 116, which norma ly lie betive 1 pinch bars 133. These pinch bars hollow and are provided with iii which are connected by means bars to keep them heated to a g rec 154: is the main driving sham" tight and loose pulley 1-55 and 1 tively, which can be belted to any s source of. power. Connected to the 15% is a pinion 156 which meshes gear Wheel 15'? on the shaft 25. Wheel 157 is also in mesh with wheel 158 on the shaft To Conn W. 2.17 the shaft 25 is a second gear 15?) which in mesh with the gear Wheel 160 on the sleeve 60 mounted on the shaft 18.

161 is a gear Wheel on the is in mesh with the gear when shaft 91.

163 is a valve in the pressu and pivoted to the upper end casing is a lever 16% arranged tuated by a cam or. the open the valve at a predete; in admit pressure to the b02198 in ti Pivotally mounted on stands: Le frame of the machine it i ii are ieverslfil", and

levers is a plate 168, the lower end of which is connected by means of a cord 169 to a stop l.7(). I

The tubes to be filled are first placed in grooves in a corrugated plate 171, the cor rugations of which match with the grooves 4 in the racks 3. This late is then plficed on the rack above the teed bar 10 ant the weighted lever 172 connected to one of the levers 167 is raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. T he movement of these lovers will swing the plate 168 into the position shown i dotted lines to push all of the tubes on tile corrugated plate to their proper position. The plate 168 is held in this position and the corrugated plate 171 is withdrawn, which leaves the tubes at their proper point in the rack 3. The machine is now started and the slide 21 being actuator the cam 94, moves the ratchetwheel 19 the distance of one tooth, and feeds a confection tube to each of the tubes 7, as before described.

The tubes 5 will drop down through the tubes 7 and into the openings 5:2 in the bar 51, the parts being in the osition shown in Fi 5, the stop plate 6% eing in position under the openings 52 to retain the tubes in their proper position in the holding bar.

The "further movement of themachinewill actuate the blocks 57 through the medium of the cams 50 to move the centering plates 53 and the pinch plates 5 1 away from each other, and permit the plugs 179, which dropped between the pinch plates at the end of the previous operation,'to drop from betweenthe plates and permitthe springs 57 to close said plates, after the cams have moved beyond the, blocks 57 V The earns 90 will now engage the rollers 89 on the lever 86 andniove the tank 85'so as to bring the tubes 9.7 under the confection tubes 5. During this inward movement of the tank, a spring pressed lug 173 on the cover of the said'tank '85 will engage one of the pinch plates, and through the medium of the gearing heretofore described, will give both pinch plates the final move ment to seal the upper ends of the tubes 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. During the moveme t of the tank 85, the plunger .107 mounte above the tank will engage the check plate 105 and move it against the action of the spring 106 into the position shown in Fig. 6. If any of the tubes 5 should stick at the mouth of the tube 7-, the check plate 105 would meetwith resistance, which would move the plan er 107 against the action of its spring anc close an electric circuit through contacts 110 and 108, and thereby ring a bell included in the circuit and notify the operator that one of the tubes 5 was stuck in meet the feed tubes 7. He vvbuld immediately throw the belt from the tight pulley to the loose pulley and bring the machine to a state of rest, to clear the marhinc before the next round. The resistance of the tub'e 5 against the check plate lOS is not suflicicnt to stop the plate 105 from being moved under the tube 6 into the position shown in Fig. 6, us the tension of the spring acting on tic plunger 1.07 is sullicient to break the tube after it had been compressed to a certain extent; and'as soon a the tube 5 is broken, the check plate wil move to a position to close the lower ends of the feed tubes 6. It is essential to move this check 'plateto tlLis position before pressure is admitted to t e box 98 in the tank 65, so as to closc the lower ends of the tubes 7 to prevent moistiii'c resisting material from being injected into the tubes 7 if a confection tube 5 has not been deliveredto one of the openings 52 in the ho din plate. Immediately after the tank 85 11808811 moved to the position just described, the cam 104 will engage the roller 103 which isconnected to the cross head on the ends of therods 93. This will raise the frame 94, together with the plate 96 and the nozzles 97 con ected ther to, into the position shown in *ig. 6, so that the nozzles 97 are moved upwardly, into the confection tubes 5. After these tubes have been moved upwardly, the cam 165 on the shaft 9 will actuate the lever 164 to open the valxe 163 to permit air pressure to flow throng the pipe 100 to the box 98, and force hot moisture resisting material up through the nozzles 97 into the confection tubes 5 to entirely coat the interior of these tubes. the surplus moisture resisting material owing back to the tank through a strainer 174. This strainer will also prevent any pieces ofbroken tubes 5 from entering the tank. front of the tank is a plate 175 which is held in its upward position by means of spr ngs 176; connected to the rods 177, which are in turn connected to the frame 04. These rods are arranged to engage the flange on the bottom of the plate 175 to Slidablv mounted in the movethe plate downwardly when the frame lever 164 and permit the valve 163 to close,

and imn'iediatcly thereafter the cam 10-1 will pass from under the roller 103 and permit the frame; together with the various parts connected thereto, to drop by gravity, and during the downward movement thereof, the arms 177 moving the plate 175 downq met 21 will r brings the hold bar :31, to c her with al of the parts err tion shown in rigs. an 11,, so Lilftt the open mouths of the confe 'tion tubes w1ll be brought below the syrup nozzles 91%, and

the various will be held in this position ing p'asszwe of the rollers 81 over the concentric poriiou S2 of the cam on the slide 76. As soon as the holding bar has been bro i I position, the earn ,916 engage the roller to through the medium or". sector 1'19; and as soon as the valve is period, the 130 on the shaft 79 will actu the syrup pump 124, heretofore desc ed, "to inject predeto Lied amount of syrup into each of the confection tubes 5. Immediately after the syrup has been injected into the confection tubes the valve 1123 will be lowered to close the openings to the nozzles 113. linmediatcly after the *alve 90 1 has been closed, the earn will enqege the roller on the i through the medium of the and toe pinch on s 133, the bars will be moved toward eaci other to close the ends of the confection tubes 5, as shown in Fig. 11. As soon as the cam 1-13 passes the roller 14.2, the springs lid will return the pinch bars to the position shown in Fig. 10. At the some time. the cams 18% on the shaft will engage the rollers on levers 185 pivoted on the shalt 1 10. $7113 levers 185 will engage pins 186 on the slides 57 to open the pinch plates and the centering plates and permit the filled conl'e 'on tubes to be drawn out of the holding bar After the co wring: and pinch plates have been moved to their open positions, the holding bar 51 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. in a manner hereinafter described and the stripper plates 14-61 will be moved downwardly by means of the can 149 on the shalt to scrape the tubes 5 frointhe hot pinch bars Slidably mounted in sleeves in the hold ing bar 51, at each end thereof are square plugs 175} which are provided with screws 180 adopted slots 181. in the sleeves and Pied to limit the ends of to the posi-- the gear connections between I noon the cen tering plates when the latter are opened afdescribed rollers 81 on the sector pass beyond the concentric portion 82 on the slide 76, the slide will drop by gravity, and

the rack 7? 0n the slide will rotate the gear 78 180 in the reverse direction to bring the holder bar 51 to the position shown in Fig. 5 to receive another set of tubes to be filled. The downward movement of the slide 76 will be counteriicted by the counterweight secured to the'shaft 4:8 and the dash-pot 182, shown in Fig". 1. As soon as the holding bar 51 has been moved to the position under the conveyor tube 7, as shown in Fig. 5, the cam portion 78 will engage the roller 72 to push the guard plate G l into the position shown. The operation of the machine will then be repeated to fill the next set of confection tubes and will be continued until all the confection tubes in the rack have beeen tubes are simultaneously sealed and the in teriors of the tubes are then coated with moistureresisting material, after which the tubes are filled with a predetermined amount of'syrup, and the-open ends thereof are sealed to retain the syrup within the tubes. ,7 Another advantage of our invention results from the provision or a machine'into which the various steps are carried out auto.

matically, end in which the upper ends of the tubes are closed at the same time that the tubes are centered in the holding device." Further, from the provision of means forauto znatically injecting water-proofing ma.-

terial into the open ends of the tube to thenoughly coat the interiorof the wells there- I i it. Further, from the provision of means for reversing the holders to bring the open mouths of the tubes below the syrup nozzles through which the tubes are filled with a predetermined amount or syrup. Also in the provision of means for automaticallyinjecting the syrup into the tubes. Further, from the provision of means for automatically sealing the open ends of the tubes after they have been filled, together with means for freeing the tubes from the closing devices.

We claim: 1. A confection tube filling machine comprising an oscillating holding bar, said holding bar having a plurality of openings to receive the tubes to be filled, a charging station for charging tubes into said openings, means for closing one end of each of the tubes, mechanism for shifting the holding bar from the charging station to a filling station, means for filling said tubes, and

means for closing the open ends of the tubes after they have been filled; substantially as described.

2. A confection tube filling maehine,com-

. prising an oscillating holding bar, said holding bar having a plurality of openings to receive the tuhesto be filled, automatic means for charging tubes into said openings, centering plates for holding said tubes in proper position on the holding bar, a filling station, mechanism for shifting the holding bar from the charging station to the fillin station, means for filling the tubes, an means for closing the ends of the tubes after they have been filled; substantially as described.

3. A confection tube filling machine, comprising a holding bar for hollow confections to be filled, a pinch plate for closing one end of the tubes slidably mounted above the holding bar, gearing connecting the pinch plates to each other, and a spring for closing the pinch plates; substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for filling confection tubes, comprising a holding device for a tube to be filled, a feedingdevice for automatically feeding the tube to the holding device, a pinching device .for closing one end of the tube, a nozzle for. injecting moisture resisting material into the tube through the open end thereof, a second nozzle for injecting syrup into the tube, and a second pinching device for closing the open end of the tube through which the syrup has been injected; substantially as described.

5. A confection tube filling machine, comprising a holding barfor a hollow confection tube to be filled, pinch plates for closing one end of the tube, means fr: filling the tube, and pinch bars for closing the other end o the tube after it has been filled; substantially as described.

6. A confection tube filling machine, comprising a swinging holding bar having a plurality of openings for receiving the tubes to be filled, pinch plates slidably mounted on the bar for, closing the upper ends of the tubes, actuating mechanism connected to the holding bar to swing the bar to bring the open ends of the tubes above the closed ends, means for filling the tubes, pinch bars for closing .the other ends of the tubes, and actuating mechanism for moving the pinch bars; substantially as described.

7. A confection tube filling machine having a holding bar provided with a plurality of openings for holding the tubes to be filled, pinch plates slidably mounted on the barfor closing one end of each of the tubes, actuating mechanism connected to both of the pinch plates for moving both plates simultaneously, and means for actuating the plates to close one end of each of the tubes; substantially as described.

8. A confection tube filling machine having a plurality of openings in alinement with each other for receiving tubes to be filled, pinch plates slidably mounted on one side of the holding bar, actuating mechanism for moving the pinch plates, and centering plates slidably mounted on the other side of the holding bar; substantially as described.

, 9. A confection tube filling machine having a holding bar provided with a plurality of openings in alinement with each other for receiving the tubes to be filled, feeding mechanism for feeding the tubes to the holding bar, pinch plates slidably mounted on one side of the holding bar, and actuating mechanism for simultaneously moving the two plates toward and from each other; substantially as described.

10. A confection tube filling machine having a holding bar provided with a plurality of openings in alinement with each other for receiving the tubes to be filled, feeding mechanism for feeding the tubes to the holding bar, pinch plates slidably mounted on one side of the holding bar, actuating mechanism for simultaneously moving the two plates toward and from each other, and centering plates mounted on the. other side of the holding bar arranged to be moved toward and from each other; substantially as described.

11. A confection tube filling machine having a holding bar provided with a plurality of openings in alinement with each other for receiving the tubes to be filled, feeding mechanism for feeding the tubes to the holding bar, pinch plates slidably mounted on one side of the holding bar, actuating mechanism for simultaneously moving the two plates toward and from each other, centering plates mounted on the other side of the holding bar connected to the pinch plates, springs for moving the pinch plates and the centering plates tothe centering plates; subribed.

tube filling machine r provided with a pinfor receiving the tubes to plate slidably mounted bebar, pinch plates slidably he holding bar, actuating moving the plates town-d.

lnffiflfig the stop plate below the the holding bar; substantially iection tuhc filling machine a swinging holding bar provided plurality of openings for holding to be filled pinch plates slidably mound A on the bar for closing one end of l the tubes, actuating connections for i the plates toward each other to close one and or" the tubes, actuating connections swinging the holding bar 180, means for fillin the tubes and inch. bars for c 1 3 0 closing. l e other ones of the tubes aIter the tubes, pinch bars for closing the other ends e tubes, actuatii'ig mechanism for movhe pinch bars to close the other ends oi? tubes, springs for opening the pinch barsfa l stripper plates for stripping the filled tubes from the pinch bars; substantially as described.

15. A confection tube filling machine having a clamping device provided with a plurality oi openings for receiving the tubes to be filled, intermittently actuated mechanism for feeding the tubes to the holding bar; mechanism for actuating the clamping device substantially as described.

16. A confection tube filling machine having a clamping device provided with a 'nlurality of openings for receiving the tubes to be tilled, conveyer tubes leading to aid openings in the holding bar, intermity actuated mechanism for feeding the confection. tubes to the conveyer tubes:

chanisin .ror actuating the clamping desuhstan 'ally as described.

CQlllclililld tube filling machine holding device provided with a of openings for receiving the be filled, a conveyer tube leading to he openings, a rack having a plan coves, the grooves in the rack rent with the conveyor tuhes ch other, and a cam for opening the a feed bar for moving the confection tubes longitudinally toward conveyor tubes, intermittently actuated mechanism for moving the feeding bar; mechanism for actuating the clamping device substantially as described, v

18. A con'fcctioi'i tube filling; machine com prising a rack, said rack having a plurality of grooves for receiving the confection tubes to be filled, each or". the grooves beinfrlong' enough to receive a number of said tubes a transverse feeding bar extending" across the rack, ratchet mechai for moving the feeding" bar step by step along the rack to feed the tubes the machine, and counterweights for returning the feeding; bar to its initial position; substantially as described.

19. A. confection tube filling machine having a clamping device ior receiving the tubes to be filled, mechanism for feeding tubes i to the clamping device a tank for holding moisture resisting material in unted below the holding" bar, and means for injecting f 1 A i i b Water-proofing material train the tank into the tubes to be files to WQ'tGT-"QIGOfi the inner Walls thereoig substantially as described.

20. A confection tube fi ling machine haw ing a holding bar provided with a. plurality of openings for receiving the tubes to he filled, pinch plates for closing the upper ends of said tubes, actuating; mechanism. for moving the pinch plates toward each other for closing one end of each of the tubes, a tank coi'itaining moisture resisting material mounted-below the holding bar having a plurality oi injector nozzles, means for moving the nozzles into the tubes to be filled, and hie-ans for forcing" moisture resisting; material from the tank into each of the tubes; substantially as described.

21. A. confection tube filling machine, comprising a casing for holding the filling syrup, a plurality of nozzles extending downwardly from said casing, a valve Within the casing; for opening and closing the openings to "the nozzles holder mechanism for filling said holder With tubes, automatic means for moving the holder to bring the, tubes to be filled under the nozzles and in alinement therewith, and'automatic valve actuating mechanism arranged to shift the valve alter the tube have been brought into alineinent .With the nozzles to permit the syrup to be injected from the easing into the tubes; substantially as described 22. A. confection tube fillinmmachinel eomprising acasing for retainlng the filling 

